Carpenter&#39;s level



NOV. 11, 1958 w J, RQCHE v 2,859,527

CARPENTER'S LEVEL Filed 0G17. 21, 1954 S m Wil/iam J. Rache V IN VEN TOR.

United States i" CARPENTERS LEVEL William J. Roche, Scranton, Pa., assignor of fifty percent to Frank Madd, Scranton, Pa.

Application October 21, 1954, Serial No. 463,765

1 Claim. (Cl. 33-88) This invention relates generally to carpenters levels and has for its primary object the provision of an attachment for a more or less conventional carpenters level in which the amount of rise or fall in a wall or the like may be directly determined.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment for carpenters levels which consists of a guide member provided with a longitudinal groove and graduations marked along one edge thereof, the groove being adapted to slidably receive a line level which is projectable below the surface of the level to maintain the same in a horizontal position when placed upon work which is disposed at an angle to the horizontal so that the line level will register with one of the graduations on the guide to directly determine the amount of rise or fall in the work.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a carpenters level provided with the indicating attachment;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Figure l and further showing the features of the slidable perpendicular blade member attached to the level;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an end elevational view on an enlarged scale showing details of the guide and line level.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, reference numeral indicates generally a more or less conventional carpenters level which includes an upright web portion 12 and a pair of anged portions consisting of the upper ilange 14 and the lower ange 16 which present opposite parallel surfaces for resting upon work to determine the level thereof. Por this purpose, the web 12 1s provided with a series of openings 18, 20 and 22 provided with spirit level members such as those indicated at 24 therein. One of the apertures 22 may be provided with a rotatable spirit level assembly indicated generally by the reference character 26 and suitable indicia 28 on the web disposed adjacent the aperture may be utilized to determine specic angularities of work surfaces, as will be readily appreciated.

Secured to opposite ends of the level 10 are guide members 30 and 32, the attachment being effected by pairs of strap members 34 and 36 in the manner shown. Each of the guides 30 and 32 is provided with a longitudinal groove having a circular portion 38 and a rectangular portion 40 of smaller width than the circular portion in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 2. A line level 42 is disposed within each of the grooves and has its circular body portion 44 received in the 2,859,527 Patented Nov; lil, 1958 `tion 40 of the guide groove, these ears being hooked as is conventional. The free side surfaces of the guide members are indicated by the reference characters 50 and 52 and the former may be provided with a series of indicia or graduations 54 thereon which are calibrated in inches of rise per linear foot, for a purpose which will be presently apparent.

In operation, the level is placed upon work whose rise or fall is to be determined and at the low end of the level the corresponding line level 42 is projected below the lower surface of the lower flange 16 such as to maintain the level 10 in a horizontal position as determined by the placement of the spirit level bubbles therein. Now, reference to the projected line level 42 at the upper attaching ear or leg 46 thereof and its alignment with one of the corresponding graduations 54 will directly read the amount of rise or fall in the work.

To render the level more versatile, one side edge of the lower flange 16 is provided with a longitudinal groove 56 which has an enlarged inner portion 58 which receives a pin 60 secured to one end of the blade member 62 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 3. Thus, the blade member may he moved along the level as between the forward dotted line position shown in Figure 2. The blade is provided with linear measuring graduations 64 as may be the top flange of the level as indicated by the referenec character 66.

The pin 60 is located at one corner of the blade 64 so that the blade may be folded, in knife fashion, into the level in an out-of-the-way position. The blade is of course provided with graduations, preferably in the manner of a conventional carpenters square.

Further, the upper flange 14 may be provided with a series of openings 68 for the purpose of striking arcs, if desired, as for marking angles, it being noted in this latter respect that all of the openings, save one, are collinearly disposed, the one opening being disposed in apical relation to the rest and at predetermined relationship therewith so as to enable a user to mark off certain predetermined angles, as will be readily apparent.

In conjunction with the linear graduation 64, a series of holes 70 are provided. These holes are positioned at one inch interval or any other desired interval for the purpose of striking arcs or circles of predetermined radii.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A combination level and carpenters square comprising an elongated I-shaped member including a web and side flanges, a spirit level in said web, one of said side flanges having a longitudinal groove opening into the free edge thereof, a blade normally disposed in said groove parallel to said member, means swingably attaching said blade in said groove for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said web to a position perpendicular to said member to form a carpenters square, said means being -movable along said groove to position said blade at different positions intermediate the ends of the member at one side thereof for disposing alongside a piece of work when the member is rested on its anges on top of a piece of work.

(References on following page) VReferences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Merrill Feb. 24, 1885 Gillette Aug. 18; 1891 5 Fry et al. Q May 8,1900 Grundeen Feb. 9, 1904 Hull et l. July 3, 1906 Tiffany July 3, 1923 y Douglas Apr. 29, 1952 Richardson Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Mar. 2, 1948 

